The Top 20 Greatest NHL Teams of All Time

Are you a fan of NHL history? Have you been following the league for years and enjoy analyzing past seasons and teams? Maybe you’re a newcomer to the sport and want to learn from its rich history. Take a look at the top 20 greatest NHL teams of all time, each one providing legendary moments, memories, and history that will last a lifetime.

1. The 1983-84 Edmonton Oilers

Winning their first-ever Stanley Cup title, the 1983-84 Edmonton Oilers’ classic lineup featured stars like Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Glenn Anderson. During their season, they won 57 games, with Gretzky recording an astounding 205 points over a 74-game run.

2. The 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens

Featuring five future Hockey Hall of Famers, the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens collected 132 regular-season points and broke the NHL-record for season wins (58). They clinched the Stanley Cup title after a dominate postseason run, winning twelve out of fourteen games, scoring forty-nine goals along the way.

3. The 1981-82 New York Islanders

The 1981-82 New York Islanders did not disappoint, earning the franchise’s third Stanley Cup title in record setting fashion with back-to-back championships. The team won a game-tying63 out of 78 games, setting an NHL record for wins in a season, and set a record with sixteen straight playoff wins.

4. The 1986-87 Edmonton Oilers

One of the iconic teams in NHL history and arguably one of the most talented rosters of players ever constructed, the 1986-87 Edmonton Oilers reached the highest mark when won a third championship in four seasons behind 22-year-old Gretzky’s 62 goals and an all-time-leading, 215 points.

5. The 1951-52 Detroit Red Wings

Driven by some truly memorable and Hall-of-Fame worthy players such as Gordie Howe, the motor city squad from the early ’50s, scored at staggering rates en route to an incredible Stanley Cup win. The team scored a mind-blowing 160 goals in total season games before slizzling through playoff games.

6. The 1979-80 New York Islanders

Successfully defending their Stanley Cup title from the previous year, the 1979-80 New York Islanders showcased the remarkable mix of talent between yesterday’s legends and today’s hockey heroes, dubbing still a highly ranked and highly feared benchmark in the NHL. Al Arbour’s troop won an unprecedented four consecutive championships from 1980-1983.

7. The 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers

Professional hockey was beginning to map out new territories as momentum shifted under Wayne Gretzky’s captaincy. The primary lineup of the 1984-85 Dads included phenomenon Gretzky, gritty Kevin Lowe, scrappy Paul Coffey, true Tommy Kurvers, and speedy Mike Krushelnyski.

8. The 1955-56 Montreal Canadiens

In the aftermath of the unfortunate Maurice Richard scoring record situation that took lights out of the growing rivalry with the maple leafs, the powerhouse Montreal Canadiens temporarily mitigated the anxiety by easing to more victories on big ice, enjoying season record totals of goals, wins, points, and mightily capturing their playoff finale.

9. The 1972-73 Montreal Canadiens

It’s only fitting that yet another Canadiens team would have grace and determination under fire sprinkled over rosters led by now iconic managers like Scotty Bowman. In this peak of form season, the Montreal Canadiens swaggered all their way to the finale, winning game two over Chicago in a seven-game series.

10. The 1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins

With persistent threats from Stanley Cup finalists before them, including the Hawks and Bruins, the dynamic duo of Mario Lemieux promised and delivered a phenomenal center-ice spectacle to remember. The duo registered astonishing output combining for nearly 300 points during playtime.

11. The 2001-2002 Detroit Redwings

In one of many magnificent appearances of the Scotty Bowman-coached team, Redwings celebrated their 10th championship on the solemn anniversary of the 48 previous triumph in near-forward fashion. Said victory made them the award-winning group for being recognized as one of the greatest franchises of this era.

12. The 1990-91 Pittsburgh Penguins

Thinking about eternal star talents like Mario Lemieux might’ve powered thought-provoking conversation then, but in 1990 ahead of an illustrious season, coach Bowman expected the blossoming youngster would be teaming up with continually outstanding center, Kevin Stevens. The Penguins became back-to-back champs after toppling the Minnesota North Stars scoring a 8–0 essential blowout victory.

13. The 1971-72 Boston Bruins

Charismatic coach Harry Sinden helped instill a winning strategy based on brute force, soft persistence and strong, poised defense around soulful victories legendarily led by Ray Bourque, Bobby Orr coupled with puck-moving Gordie Howe-type-like, Dallas Smith

14. The 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit contested and won numerous franchise-altering games of more impactful conferences, avenging severe losses, and sweeping competitions with show-win efforts swiftly backed by Gretzky, Yzerman, and Doug Brown. Skating rapidly scored a final count of an eye-popping 122 wins, career profession finding seasonal improvements.

15. The 2002-03 New Jersey Devils

With an obvious expectation from everyone to weep weekly losses due to unpredictable scoreless setbacks from prolific rivals, Brodeur-led goal-tenders revered famously reconfiguring notions from tough battles into remarkable wins establishing balance with effortless attack driven by pillar talents like Ruslan Salei.

16. The 1970-71 Boston Bruins

Lead centreman Jean Ratelle made three assisted setups while Steve Vickers exchanged basic finishing and timely wrist shots on Randy Rota that always reached favorably towards Clarke Gilles scoring record. The team leapt fantastically past 63 others, securing collectible hockey memorabilia while winning 57 games with a wild 121 points scaling them impressively against top goals as the league accelerated

17. The 1967-68 Montreal Canadiens

Just a trivia answer to some and an exquisite notion to fans who venerate the pure pace of the sport, the Champlain Bridge-built Le Corteaux Victoria team exemplified that players stepping in relief bring importance upon reward. This team taught fans how additional culture or team strategy matters for true winning reflex, regardless of additional adversity, and even internal or external disruptions.

18. The 1950-51 Toronto Maple Leafs

For the first time in many years, all sixty-four teams tried various philosophical ideas to defend against the Stanley Cup Winners with little success. Many have surrendered memorable catches by Canadian star triad Phil Watson, Slovak import from Globe Sonja, and edging skinny enforcer Hivo Pearson, stumbling along the quarter-final jog led by other incredible supporting standings.

19. The 1988-89 Calgary Flames

Many fans agreed they were well-deserving of bonus attention, despite finishing first overall way behind that highlighted significant budget precedents e.g. tough division loses. Getting picks right from there set the colour ad definitely leaned towards the side with a show promising some inspiring patterns in fore-check development steered by towering center front Colin Patterson.

20. The 2009-2010 Chicago Blackhawks

Unlike their competitors betting top-free skaters hailing from eras forged years ago paving the way for future proponents evident on core team strategies, Blackhawks prioritized defence choices big-time in pursuit of maximizing absolute peak yield level for their shot blocking structures. Predominantly agile blue-liner Tom Gustafsson anchored strongly in the conference along the path of the regular season finallys with ten scores sticking impressively to wrangle totals.